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Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax K-5 IIs

Portability
87
Imaging
52
Features
54
Overall
52
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 front
 
Pentax K-5 IIs front
Portability
60
Imaging
58
Features
83
Overall
68

Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Key Specs

Panasonic GX1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 318g - 116 x 68 x 39mm
  • Revealed February 2012
  • Replacement is Panasonic GX7
Pentax K-5 IIs
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Push to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 760g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Released June 2013
  • Superseded the Pentax K-5
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Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Overview

Following is a detailed assessment of the Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax K-5 IIs, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the GX1 (16MP) and the K-5 IIs (16MP) is very well matched but the GX1 (Four Thirds) and K-5 IIs (APS-C) have different sensor size.

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The GX1 was manufactured 15 months before the K-5 IIs making them a generation away from one another. Both the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic GX1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-5 IIs being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go into a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the GX1 scores against the K-5 IIs in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GX1 over the Pentax K-5 IIs

 GX1 K-5 IIs 
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 IIs over the Panasonic GX1

 K-5 IIs GX1 
ReleasedJune 2013February 2012More modern by 15 months
Display resolution921k460kCrisper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GX1 and Pentax K-5 IIs

 GX1 K-5 IIs 
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry around your camera regularly, you need to factor its weight and size. The Panasonic GX1 comes with physical measurements of 116mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") having a weight of 318 grams (0.70 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-5 IIs has specifications of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") and a weight of 760 grams (1.68 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax K-5 IIs in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you use at that time. Following is a front view physical size comparison of the GX1 versus the K-5 IIs.

Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax K-5 IIs size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the GX1 and K-5 IIs is 87 and 60 respectively.

Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax K-5 IIs top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be hard to picture the gap between sensor sizes purely by checking specs. The image here might provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the GX1 and K-5 IIs.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras provide the same megapixels but different sensor sizes. The GX1 comes with the tinier sensor which is going to make achieving bokeh tougher. The more aged GX1 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax K-5 IIs sensor size comparison

Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GX1 Portrait photography information
Pentax K-5 IIs Portrait photography information
71
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focus
supports RAW files
74
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GX1 Street photography details
Pentax K-5 IIs Street photography details
70
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
supports touch to focus
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
environment proofing
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GX1 Sports photography advice
Pentax K-5 IIs Sports photography advice
47
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
low frames per second (4.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
low battery pack (300 CIPA)
lacks phase detect auto focus
79
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
environment proofing
supports phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GX1 Travel photography highlights
Pentax K-5 IIs Travel photography highlights
65
supports touch to focus
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse mode
low battery pack (300 shots)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
65
environment proofing
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
has built in flash
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GX1 Landscape photography advice
Pentax K-5 IIs Landscape photography advice
62
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
low battery pack (300 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse mode
79
manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
doesnt have anti aliasing filter
exports RAW files
environment proofing
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GX1 Vlogging factors
Pentax K-5 IIs Vlogging factors
32
touchscreen
includes face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
lack of microphone support
33
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with external microphone support
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Panasonic GX1 vs Pentax K-5 IIs Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GX1 and Pentax K-5 IIs
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1Pentax K-5 IIs
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 Pentax K-5 IIs
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2012-02-14 2013-06-04
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine FHD Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4592 x 3448 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 12800 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 51200
Lowest native ISO 160 100
RAW support
Lowest boosted ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 23 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds Pentax KAF2
Amount of lenses 107 151
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting rate 4.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.60 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160s 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30fps) 1920 x 1080 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (25, 30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 318g (0.70 lbs) 760g (1.68 lbs)
Physical dimensions 116 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 55 82
DXO Color Depth score 20.8 23.9
DXO Dynamic range score 10.6 14.1
DXO Low light score 703 1208
Other
Battery life 300 images 980 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Price at launch $228 $749